New research has found the beta-carotene in golden rice converts to vitamin A in the human body.

A team of scientists from Baylor College of Medicine and Tufts University conducted a study in which five healthy adults were asked to eat a specific amount of golden rice and measured the amount of retinol, a form of vitamin A, in the blood.

“We found that four units of beta-carotene from Golden Rice convert to one unit of vitamin A in humans,” says Dr. Michael Grusak, associate professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at BCM and Texas Children’s Hospital.

According to the background information of the study, golden rice was developed in the early 1990s to include beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor, in the grain. In its current form it contains 35 micrograms of beta-carotene per gram of rice.

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in eye health and proper vision. It also supports normal skin health including reduction of acne and skin inflammation.

Health practitioners have recommended using nutritional supplements for those who are concerned about getting enough vitamin A from their diet.